J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

5 militants killed in J & K
SRINAGAR, March 16 — Five militants and two security personnel were killed and a security jawan was wounded in separate encounters, while a militant was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

Cops to be screened regularly
JAMMU, March 16 — Following the arrest of constable Mohammad Altaf on the charges of spying and engineering several bomb explosions, the screening of policemen will be made a regular feature.

5 militants killed in J & K

SRINAGAR, March 16 (PTI) — Five militants and two security personnel were killed and a security jawan was wounded in separate encounters, while a militant was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

In a major encounter in Jammu region, two unidentified militants and two security personnel were killed at Gunthal village in the Surankote area of Poonch district today, an official spokesman said here.

Security forces had launched an operation yesterday following specific information about the presence of militants in the area, he said.

He said two suspected foreign militants were killed and an Army Jawan was injured seriously when a joint party of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police and Army troops raided a militant hideout at Badampora on the outskirts of Srinagar last night.

The raid sparked off a fierce encounter which lasted for nearly eight hours. Two AK assault rifles, two grenades and some ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, the spokesman said.

He said SOG personnel killed a militant, identified as Gulzar Ahmad Lone, in the Narkara area of Badgam district in central Kashmir last night.

However, residents of the area alleged that Lone was dragged out of a police vehicle and gunned down by the SOG personnel.

The police, assisted by the BSF, nabbed a militant identified as Abdul Khaliq at Branwar in the Chadoora area of Badgam district yesterday.

Cops to be screened regularly
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 16 — Following the arrest of constable Mohammad Altaf on the charges of spying and engineering several bomb explosions, the screening of policemen will be made a regular feature.

Giving details of the arrest, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr R.V. Raju, and the Inspector-General Operation, Mr P.S. Gill, told mediapersons here today that Altaf was picked up for interrogation 10 days ago. He was formally arrested today.

Mr Raju said after several bomb explosions rocked Jammu and Kathua districts, the Director-General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, asked the Special Operations Group (SOG) to investigate.

The SOG under the guidance of Mr P.S. Gill found that Altaf was involved in subversive activities. His antecedents were verified again and it was found that in November, 1999, he had crossed to Pakistan via Kathmandu and visited Karachi and Islamabad. He was given training in handling of explosives there. Later, he crossed into the Jammu sector from across R.S. Pora along with arms and explosives.

During interrogation, Altaf had confessed to have been working for the Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front. He had earlier worked with the JKLF and later joined Al Mujahid. After his training in Pakistan, he had become a top ISI agent because of his posting in the security wing. The police was searching for Shabir, alias, Adil, said to be Altaf's main contact man.

The IG said Altaf had been sending messages on the phone to this contact man in Delhi and elsewhere.

Altaf belonged to Thana Mandi in Rajouri.

Mr Raju said Altaf had travelled to Karachi by a PIA flight from Kathmandu where he had met the supreme of the Islamic Front, Bilal Beg and Brigadier Riaj of the ISI.

He said Altaf had maintained a file of local newspapers carrying news about the Krishna Nagar bomb blast in which five persons were killed in February last. After the blast he had phoned his contact man in Delhi, informing him "Kaam ho gaya hein" (the work has been done).

Altaf had prepared an FDR for Rs 30,000 in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank which was in police possession.

Altaf had been assigned the task of giving access to militants to residences and official chambers of VIPs so that they could be eliminated, the IG said.